Round 1 – Blanco out quickly, and he wants a takedown. Arantes defends it and looks to trade. Quick start. Blanco keeps the pressure high, but Arantes avoiding much damage in the early going. Blanco works the body and then drives forward with more strikes before pulling Arantes to the canvas. Arantes has half-guard underneath. Blanco postures, and Arantes crawls to his feet. Arantes starts quickly with strikes now. High kick scores. Left hand lands. Blanco absorbs it and goes back to the body. Blanco again digs to the body. Arantes covers up against the cage and then punches his way out of trouble. High pace to open this fight. Spinning kicks scores glancingly for Arantes. Arantes kicks the leg. He tries again, but Blanco pulls away. Arantes rushes forward with strikes. Right hand lands flush, and Blanco is down. Arantes tries to get to the neck. It’s not there. Blanco now defending and armbar, but he pulls free. Bell sounds, and MMAjunkie gives the round to Arantes on the late work, 10-9.

Round 2 – Blanco looks OK to start the second, and he’s out quickly. He sweeps the leg and sends Arantes to the floor. Blanco quickly forward and into Arantes’s guard. Arantes wants the arm, but Blanco picks him up and slams his way free. Arantes back up to his feet, and now he’s looking for the takedown. Blanco stays upright and pushes him away. Arantes moves in with two punches that score. Halfway into the round, and Arantes with a leaping knee. Arantes looks fresher as he moves in from the outside. He kicks the body, but Blanco pulls away from the cage. Arantes scoring with crisp straights, and he just misses on a big right. Blanco drives in for a takedown. He settles again into Arantes’ guard. Arantes tries to bring his legs high. Nothing there, so he ties up the arms to keep Blanco from striking. Not a lot happening, as Arantes holds for the standup. Referee Mario Yamasaki gives it, and Arantes busy again on the feet. Close round, but MMAjunkie leans slightly toward Blanco with the takedowns, 10-9.

Round 3 – Blanco looks to push early once more. He drives to the body. Arantes answers with two straights up top. Blanco grabs a leg, and Arantes scrambles free. Arantes loads up on a right. Blanco kicks the groin, and it’s a direct hit. Arantes crumples to the floor. Arantes in obvious pain, but he eventually gets back to his feet. Referee Yamsaki takes a point for the blow, but we carry on. Not sure if that was warranted, but it’s done. Blanco turns up the heat. Arantes right there, too. Arantes answers back. They scramble to the floor, and Arantes turns for an arm. Blanco pulls free and moves to his feet. Arantes underneath and looking for a takedown, and he gets it. Blanco won’t stay down, and he gets up and away. Less than two minutes remain. Arantes again shoots for the legs. Blanco defends against the fence. They work in the clinch, but Yamsaki breaks them with just under 50 seconds. Flurries from both on the restart. Arantes is quickly inside again and pressing forward. Blanco looks like he’s fine agains the fence. Round ends there, and MMAjunkie leans toward Arantes, 10-8 with the deduction, giving him the fight 29-27.